Mother Mary said at Fatima: "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the sure way which will lead you to God." St. Thomas Aquinas said: "The things we love tell us who we are!" With that in mind, I will try to post each day something about Our Blessed Lady, items about the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and public domain Catholic books too! I pray you enjoy my ministry!
Below are two albums of pictures that I created:
1. Our grand daughter Adrianna.
2. Tears of Mary!

MARY, OUR MOTHER

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

We lived on Long Island for many years so this got my interest. My children went to St. Joseph's Catholic School in Lake Ronkonkoma and I was involved in different ministries as a lay person there. Fr. Carew (RIP) inspired me to seek out the diaconate. We loved Long Island!

New Order of Priests Coming to Diocese of Rockville Centre

WRITTEN BY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

For Immediate Release

29 November 2010

Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Klosterneuburg to Establish Foundation in Diocese of Rockville Centre; will assume Pastoral Care for Two Parishes

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – November 29, 2010 – The Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Klosterneuburg have accepted Bishop Murphy’s invitation to found an Institute of the Stift Klosterneuburg in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

In doing so, they have accepted the pastoral care of the parishes of Saint Patrick and Saint Rocco in Glen Cove, New York effective June 2011. Each parish will have its own pastor and continue to maintain its own separate identity. Initially, three priests will arrive in June with the hope of more priests to come in the future.

“We look forward to the presence of the Canons in our diocese and we are very excited that they will be sharing their rich traditions and spiritual life with us,” said the Most Reverend William Murphy, bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre.

"The new small U.S. community will lead a common life according to the Rule of Saint Augustine in the rectory of Saint Patrick's and thereby introduce the institution of the Canons Regular in the northern U.S.," said the Provost of the Canons, Abbot General of the Austrian Congregation of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine and Abbot Primate of the Confederation of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, Most Reverend Bernhard Backovsky.

While the Canons are from Klosterneuburg, a small town near Vienna, in Lower Austria, the priests who will make up the Glen Cove congregation are all Americans, two of them originally from the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Father Daniel (Baptismal name: Stephen) Nash, who will become the pastor of Saint Patrick’s parish, is a native of Wantagh. Father Daniel was baptized in Saint Agnes Cathedral and raised in Saint Frances de Chantal parish, Wantagh, where he attended the parish school. He graduated from Chaminade High School, Mineola and Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. For seven years he served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington before joining the abbey at Klosterneuburg seven years ago.

A Syosset native, Father Elias (Baptismal name: Matthew) Carr will become the pastor of Saint Rocco’s Parish. Father Bruno (Baptismal name: Richard) Semple of Spokane Washington will complete the trio of priests coming to Glen Cove.

It’s great to be back on Long Island, said Father Daniel. “This is a dream come to fruition,” he added. The priests are part of an “American Project,” where nine American men who joined the order in Austria, hoping to eventually be able to bring its tradition of priestly fraternity and communal living to the United States.

“We are excited to come to a place where there is a lot of life,” said Father Daniel. “The European Church is different. Parish life here is going to be a lot busier.” While the parish he is currently pastor of has 7,200 parishioners, only about 300 attend Mass.

The Canons are a religious community but are very similar to diocesan priests. The most significant difference is that members of a religious community live in community and take vows of obedience, chastity, common property and stability. The Canons also pray the Divine Office communally.

The arrival of the Canons to the diocese continues a long history of religious orders providing pastoral leadership in the diocese. Currently, Saint Anthony’s parish, Oceanside is an apostolate of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits); Saint Martin of Tours parish, Bethpage is led by the Redemptorists; and the Capuchin Friars of the Province of Saint Mary provide pastoral service to St. Joseph the Worker parish, East Patchogue.

-30-About The Diocese of Rockville CentreThe Diocese of Rockville Centre (www.drvc.org) was formed in 1957 and covers 1,198 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.5 million Catholics (total population in both counties is approximately 3.4 million). There are 133 parishes in 115 towns. Last year over 17,000 baptisms, 19,000 confirmations, 17,000 first communions and 3,000 marriages took place in the diocese. There are approximately 20,000 students in Catholic elementary schools; 13,000 in secondary schools and 3,500 in higher institutions. There are 55 Catholic elementary schools (51 parish or regional and 4 private), 10 high schools (3 diocesan and 7 private) and one Catholic college in the diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island consists of six hospitals, three nursing homes, a community-based home for those with special needs and a hospice. In 2008, Catholic Charities assisted more than 55,485 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged on Long Island. (11/10).

This is the issue of naming angels. A couple of months ago we had a touching account from a woman who met what she believes was her guardian during a pilgrimage and named the angel "Cherish." It really seemed more a nickname. We could not presume to be the one who names an angel -- it is God Who would do that.
But it seems the idea of lending any name to an angel raises concerns with some.
Read this article here: http://www.spiritdaily.com/namingguadrianangels.htm

My comment: I have a strong devotion to the Angels, all Nine Choirs and especially my Guardian Angel. I have never had the idea to name my guardian angel and I personally don't think anyone should. I also read somewhere that certain people have more than one Guardian Angel, especially the blind. Another thought is that I pray the St. Michael Chaplet every day and one of the promises attached to this great prayer is that when we receive Holy Communion, Nine Angels, one from each Choir, escort you to the altar. Now are we going to name all nine? Not me! I'm so happy to have this devotion and can tell you that the Angels have interceded into my life many times and have assisted me in many ways. I truly thank God for creating them and giving each one of us a Guardian Angel to guide us to heaven.
Blessings+
Deacon John

For Humanity And Divinity Have Been Joined In Christ Jesus.

In the course of a life’s journey there are often stretches of bad road. It seems that some people have an easier time than others, but it is a rare individual that never encounters a rough stretch. In recent years, perhaps that’s why I have found an increasing number of people that liken themselves to old cars. One poor woman said she felt very old. When I reminded her that she was only 39, she responded that she’s like a three year old car – not that old, but with over 500,000 miles – most of it over bad roads.

It is a rather well known fact that the Christmas holidays are the most difficult period many people face all year. Many of my pastor friends tell me that more people die during the week before Christmas than any other time.

With the erosion of family unity has come sadness, all at a time that should be joyful. Sometimes we can only be happy by willing it, often not merely by feeling it. Reality demands that at Christmas we will to be happy, after all

“A Child has been born to us!”

As I look out my window the snow is falling and the pine trees are clothed in Christmas white. It is very silent, perhaps a prelude to a silent night not far off. At a time when the forces of evil are relentless in their attempts to not only take Christ out of Christmas, but to suppress Christmas altogether, we must be just as relentless in our efforts to give glory to God through his Son, Jesus Christ.

This year approach Christmas as you would approach the Christ Child himself – with reverence and with thanksgiving. Allow nothing to rob your joy at this precious time. Sadness has no place in reality, true reality, for the Word has become flesh and dwelt among us. Humanity and divinity have been joined in Jesus, now come to us as an infant. In the cold winter of human hearts there is often no room at the Inn for the Holy Family. Make room in the warmth of your heart for the infant King the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Often the greatest joy is experienced by giving something to others: A smile, forgiveness, perhaps the gift of faith itself.

Have a most blessed and merry Christmas, and may God give you the Gift who contains all gifts: the Holy Spirit.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi

P.S. – Would you do Courageous Priest a favor and share this info with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or Email right now? It will just take a second by clicking one of the buttons below. We truly appreciate it.

I.Consider, my soul, that the eternal Father, in giving us His beloved Son for our Redeemer, could have given us no stronger motives for confiding in His mercy and loving His infinite bounty; for He could have given us no more certain token of the desire He has for our good, and of the immense love which He bears us, inasmuch as in giving us His Son, He has nothing left to give us. Let all men, therefore, O eternal God, praise Thy infinite charity.

II.How hath He not also, with Him, given us all things? Since God has given us His Son, whom He loved as Himself, how can we fear that He will deny us any other good that we ask of Him? If, therefore, He has given us His Son, He will not refuse us pardon for the offenses which we have committed against Him, provided we detest them; He will not refuse us the grace to resist temptations, if we implore it of Him; He will not refuse us His Paradise, if we do not render ourselves unworthy of it by falling into sin. Behold how Jesus Himself assures us of this: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you." (John 16:23)

Encouraged, therefore, O my God, by this promise, I beg of Thee, for the love of Jesus Thy Son, to pardon me all the injuries that I have done Thee; give me holy perseverance in Thy grace until death; give me Thy holy love; may I detach myself from everything to love Thee alone, O infinite Goodness; give me Paradise in order that I may come and love Thee there with all my strength, and forever, without fear of ever ceasing to love Thee.

III.

In a word, the Apostle says that, having obtained Jesus Christ, we have been enriched with every good, so that there is no grace wanting to us: In all things you are made rich in Him . . ., so that nothing is wanting to you in any grace. (I Cor. 1:5)

Mary: "My beloved priest-son, how I love to enfold you in my arms as my little child! Enfolded in my arms in my maternal embrace, I press you against my Immaculate Heart. I draw you within my Heart. There, through my maternal intercession, I clothe you with Jesus' graces. As you dwell in my Heart, I place you ever more deeply within Jesus' Heart and there the Holy Spirit fashions you increasingly in the image of my Son. As you grow in the likeness of Jesus, He takes you ever closer to the Father.

"Thus, as you grow in the sense of your helplessness without God, the stronger you become in Jesus. Childlike thus becomes strength. The smaller you become in living out spiritual childhood, the taller you stand beside Jesus. Weakness becomes strength, your sense of helplessness becomes spiritual maturity!

"Tell all my children about the wonders of spiritual childhood! Tell them to come to me and I will school them in its ways. How I love all my children! Oh, how I love to exercise my motherhood toward them all!"

Reflection: In the Gospel, Jesus speaks emphatically to us about spiritual childhood: "At this time the disciples came to Jesus and said, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, 'I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven'" (Matthew18:1-4).

"Dear children! I invite you all to have more trust in me and to live my messages more deeply. I am with you and I intercede before God for you but also I wait for your hearts to open up to my messages. Rejoice because God loves you and gives you the possibility to convert every day and to believe more in God the Creator. Thank you having responded to my call." (

May 25, 1994)

Advent is the time of waiting.We wait for the second coming of Jesus.We wait for the celebration of the coming of Jesus as a child in Bethlehem.We wait for a new heaven and a new earth.We wait.Our Lady told us in this message of 1994 that she waits for us as well.She waits for our hearts to open to her messages.Out of love and respect and deep commitment to us, she waits.

Today I want to share the Sunday Angelus greeting from Benedict XVI, translated for us by a friend.It is very beautiful and reveals something wonderful about waiting:

On Sunday, 28 November, the first day of Advent, the Holy Father prayed the Angelus with the Faithful gathered in St Peter's Square. The following is a translation of the Pope's Address before the Angelus, which was given in Italian.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Today, the first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new liturgical year, a new journey of faith that, on the one hand, remembers the event of Jesus Christ and, on the other, opens herself toward her ultimate fulfillment. It is precisely in this double perspective that the season of Advent is situated, looking to the first coming of the Son of God, when he was born of the Virgin Mary, and to his glorious return, when he will come "to judge the living and the dead", as we say in the Creed. I would like to now briefly focus on this suggestive theme of "waiting", for it touches upon a profoundly human aspect in which the faith becomes, so to speak, completely one with our flesh and our heart.

Expectation- waiting - is a dimension that flows through our whole personal, familial and social existence. Expectation is present in a thousand situations, from the smallest and most banal to the most important. It draws us in completely and in the deepest way. Among these, we think of a husband and wife waiting for a child, or waiting for a relative or friend who is coming from far away to visit; we think of a young person waiting to know his grade on a big exam or the outcome of a job interview; in romantic relationships, waiting to meet the beloved, for an answer to a letter, or waiting to receive forgiveness. One could say that man is alive so long as he waits, so long as hope is alive in his heart. And from his waiting, a man realizes: our moral and spiritual "stature" can be measured by that which we wait for, by that which we hope for.

Every one of us, therefore, especially in this Season which prepares us for Christmas, can ask himself: What am I waiting for? For what, in this moment of my life, does my heart long? And this same question can be posed at the level of the family, of the community, of the nation. What are we waiting for together? What unites our aspirations, what do we have in common?

In the time before Jesus' birth the expectation of the Messiah was very strong in Israel - that is, the expectation of an Anointed one, a descendent of King David, who would finally set the people free from every moral and political slavery and found the Kingdom of God. But no one would have imagined that the Messiah could be born of a humble girl like Mary, the betrothed of a righteous man, Joseph. Nor would she have thought of it, and yet in her heart the expectation of the Savior was so great, her faith and hope were so ardent, that He was able to find in her a worthy mother.

Moreover, God himself had prepared her before time. There is a mysterious correspondence between the waiting of God and the waiting of Mary, the creature "full of grace" totally transparent to the loving plan of the Most High. Let us learn from her, the Lady of Advent, how to live with a new spirit in our daily gestures, with the feelings of profound expectation that only the coming of God can fulfill.

Isn't this wonderful!To wait is an act of faith, an act of love, an act of supremely great beauty!Our Lady waited for the Messiah, the Father waited for Our Lady, Our Lady waits now for us to respond to her call, and we all wait for the coming of Jesus in glory!How beautiful is God!!!

I asked priest-author Father John Trigilio Jr., president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy — and one of my favorite priests to quote in this column — to weigh in on the morality of what WikiLeaks has been doing as of late. Father's response (slightly edited) is as follows:

Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic columnist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Media and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He has worked in the right-to-life movement and is a published writer focused on Catholic and social issues. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue explains why the Catholic League decided to erect a pro-Christmas billboard in New York City:

On the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel, American Atheists has a billboard with an illustration of a nativity scene that reads, "You Know It's a Myth: This Season Celebrate Reason." It was erected over the weekend.

The Catholic League now has a billboard on the New York side of the Lincoln Tunnel with a picture of a nativity scene that reads, "You Know It’s Real: This Season Celebrate Jesus." Our billboard also says, "Merry Christmas from the Catholic League." It is 26' x 24' and is located at Dyer Avenue and 31st Street [click here to see an image of our billboard].

We decided to counterpunch after a donor came forward seeking to challenge the anti-Christmas statement by American Atheists. Our approach is positive, and services the common good. Theirs is negative, and is designed to sow division. It's what they do.

So after Christian motorists have had their sensibilities assaulted as they exit New Jersey, they will experience a sense of joy, and satisfaction, as they enter New York City. It's what we do.

Jeff Field Director of Communications The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights 450 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10123 212-371-3191 212-371-3394 (fax)

MISSIONARY INTENTION - “That the peoples of the earth may open their doors to Christ and to His Gospel of peace, brotherhood and justice” - Commentary on Missionary Intention December 2010

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In his book “Jesus of Nazareth”, Benedict XVI recalls the original meaning of the word “Gospel”. It is usually translated simply as “good news”. But its significance is deeper. It comes from imperial Rome, where the emperor's words were the announcement of favour and salvation for the people. Then the Holy Father goes on to describe the literary genre of the writings left to us by the apostles John, Matthew, Mark and Luke. If we go back to its original meaning, we find that only the Word of Jesus is truly “gospel”. He who is the Word made flesh, makes the Gospel come alive for us. His persona and presence bring the salvation of God to men. Christ, the Word of the Father, given to every man, is in search of an answer in order to establish a dialogue of salvation with men. The Book of Revelation reminds us of Christ's attitude towards any man: “Behold: I stand at the door and knock. If hearing my voice, one opens the door, I will come to him and dine with him and he with me” (Rev 3:20). We must lift our prayer that the hearts of all men to be open to God. To the extent that we let him in and eat with us, which is like saying we open ourselves to intimacy, Christ can transform hearts and society itself.

Christ himself is our peace. He became our brother in becoming man, made himself small for us so that we would not be afraid to approach him, and to open the door to receive him. He is to us the saving righteousness of God. The human concept of justice consists in giving to each what is his, but God has a different concept of justice. He consigned his Son to death for us, so that the just died for the sinner. In our view, the justice of God seems to be unfair, because everyone gets the opposite of what they deserve. The righteous takes the curse of sin upon himself and the sinner receives the blessing due to the righteous. But God has a different concept of justice. Therefore, says Benedict XVI, “Before the justice of the Cross, man may rebel for this reveals how man is not a self-sufficient being, but in need of Another in order to realize himself fully. Conversion to Christ, believing in the Gospel, ultimately means this: to exit the illusion of self-sufficiency in order to discover and accept one’s own need – the need of other

s and God, the need of His forgiveness and His friendship” (Message for Lent 2010).

At Christmas we contemplate the Word that was made flesh. The eternal Word became small, so small as to fit in a manger. He became a child with a face that we see, Jesus of Nazareth (cf. Verbum Domini, 12). “He came among his and his people received him not. But to those who received him he gave power to become children of God” (Jn 1:11-12). Only thanks to divine sonship, we may come to be brothers. Only when there is a Father, there may be brotherhood. Because Christ has made us children, now we can be brothers. We pray that Mary will teach us to listen to the Word, to keep the Word in our hearts and embody Him, that Christ may be visible in us to our brothers. (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2010)

Monday, November 29, 2010

(Rom 10:13-15) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things?

Catholic Bishop Robert J. Baker once had a Christmas tree nearly dumped on his head.

"Someone threw the tree off a balcony the day after Christmas," Baker said.

That was years ago in Charleston, S.C., but the trend toward earlier and earlier Christmas shopping seasons, followed by an immediate dropping of Christmas cheer the day after, has troubled the bishop ever since.

This year, he's promoting the importance of Advent -- the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

Baker has also taped the meditations, and they will be airing daily on EWTN beginning Sunday, the first day of Advent, and continuing through Christmas at various times each day.

It's important to stress the spiritual meaning of Christmas and prepare for it, Baker said.

"If Christmas is to have meaning, you have to prepare for it, in a way that's prayerful and penitential," Baker said. "That's why we have purple candles. To remind us the king is being welcomed with prayerful and penitential hearts." An Advent wreath is traditionally made of evergreens in a circle, symbolizing God's unending love. It includes three purple candles, and the candle for the third week of Advent is pink in most Advent wreaths. It signifies the hope of the coming of Christ, Baker said.

"Hope is needed in our culture," Baker said. "People are struggling economically. People are in dire need of hope."

For Christians, that hope comes from the birth of Jesus, he said.

For the first week, there is one purple candle lit on the Advent wreath every day. Another is added the second week. A pink candle is lit the third week, another purple candle the fourth week.

The three purple candles and the pink candle are all lit on the last Sunday before Christmas and throughout that week.

A white candle at the center of most Advent wreaths, the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas day, Baker said.

Baker recommends that starting Sunday, families light Advent candles each day at the dinner table in their homes. "They can make their own meditations as a family," Baker said. "Children can come up with beautiful ideas. Let the children come up with a reflection."

The essence of Advent is preparation for the arrival of Christ, Baker said. "God is here; he is not withdrawn from the world," Baker said.

"We Christians see Jesus as the hope of the world," Baker said. "He is Emmanuel, God with us. No matter what our situation, how bleak, God is with us and he walks with us through the struggles and turmoil of life."

November 29, 2010. Apparently, not even the sophisticated U.S. intellegence services were able to penetrate the walls of the Sistine Chapel. According to sensitive U.S. documents fed to the Wikileaks website and deemed illegal by the State Department, Joseph Ratzinger's papal election came as a total surprise.

The report was among a cache of a quarter-million confidential American cables over the past three years.

The not-so-top-secret documents show that the United States was expecting the first South American to rise to the throne of St. Peter's.

Italian right-wing newspaper il Giornale said on its website that American diplomats were thrown off by news reports.

Some top US Vatican correspondents said Ratzinger was an obvious candidate but wouldn't pass the first round of votes in the 2005 Conclave.

Other hotly-contested specifics of the Wikileaks dossier were released to top international news organizations.

The documents allege, among other things, that Saudi Arabia was pushing the United States to thwart a possible attack by Iran and that the U.S. believes North Korea provided Iran with nuclear missles that could be pointed at Western European capitals, like the Vatican's host city of Rome.

Goodness of God the Father and of God the Son in the Work of the Redemption.

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est."And became incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man." --Profession of Faith.

I.

God created Adam, and enriched him with gifts; but man, ungrateful, offended Him by sinning and thus both he and all we, his descendants, remained deprived of divine grace and paradise. Thus, then, all mankind was lost and without a remedy. Man had offended God, and therefore was incapable of giving Him an adequate satisfaction; it was necessary then that a divine person should satisfy for man. What does the eternal Father to save lost man? He sent this same Son to become man, and clothe Himself with the same flesh as sinful men, in order that by His death He might pay their debts to divine justice, and thus obtain for them a restoration to divine grace. O my God, if Thy infinite bounty had not discovered this remedy, who of us could ever have asked it, or even imagined it?

II.O God, what a subject of wonder must not this great love which God showed to rebellious man have been to the angels! What must they have said when they saw the eternal Word become man, and assume the same flesh as sinful man, insomuch as this Word incarnate appeared to the whole world in the form of a sinful man, as were all others. O my Jesus, how much do we not owe Thee, and how much more than others am I not indebted to Thee, who have offended Thee so much more than others! If Thou hast not come to save me, what would have become of me for all eternity? Who could have saved me from the pains that I deserve? Mayest Thou be ever blessed and praised for so great love!

III.

Thus, then, the Son of God comes from heaven on earth, and becomes man; He comes to live a life of suffering; He comes to die upon the Cross for the love of man; and shall men who believe all this love any other object besides this incarnate God? O Jesus my Saviour, I will love none other but Thee; Thou alone hast loved me. Thee alone will I love. I renounce all created goods; Thou alone art sufficient for me, O immense and infinite Good! If hitherto I have displeased Thee, I am now heartily sorry for it, and would wish that this sorrow might make me die, to compensate in some measure for the displeasure I have caused Thee. Oh, permit me not in future to be ever again ungrateful for the love Thou hast borne me. No, my Jesus, make me love Thee, and then treat me as Thou pleasest. O infinite Bounty, O infinite Love, I will only live henceforth to love Thee! O Mary, Mother of mercy, this one favor I ask of thee, obtain for me the grace of always, always loving God.

We continue our examination of the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the Ecce Agnus Dei:

After once again receiving the Lord’s blessing, The peace of the Lord be with you always, and responding, And with your spirit, the next change that we encounter takes place when the priest elevates the Host and Chalice and says:

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

The new translation for the priest refers to the Lamb’s supper - language found in the Book of Revelation. One will also notice that blessed replaces the adjective happy – a noteworthy upgrade with regard to sacred significance that should be apparent to anyone who has ever given their kid a Happy Meal.

Our response will also change:

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

This response calls to mind the words that were spoken by the Roman centurion to Jesus when he begged the Lord to heal his sick servant in Matthew 8.

In this instance, however, we are asking the Lord to heal not our servant, but our very soul. We are acknowledging that we’re about to receive Him under the "roof of our mouths" and thus to welcome Him into our physical abode; into our bodies, the dwelling place of the soul.

We ask that our souls be healed so that the Lord may indeed enter in spite of our unworthiness, so that He may abide in us and we in Him. The imagery of the Lord entering under the roof of our physical bodies should naturally lead our thoughts to the Bread of Life discourse found in John 6: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof...

While some people have commented that the unusual language employed here, though Biblical, feels uncomfortably distant when compared to the incredible intimacy of Holy Communion, it’s important for us to realize that our response is the lead up to the divine encounter that awaits us; it is not the moment of intimacy itself. Our response, in other words, is meant to orient our thoughts in such way as to help us embrace the breathtaking reality of what is about to happen. This is important!

Let’s take a closer look at the Scriptural roots of this response as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew to discover how we might make the centurion’s words and sentiments our very own; inspiring the kind of awe that should accompany our union with Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist.

And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." (Matthew 8:7-9)

What is the centurion saying here? In comparing himself to his own servants as "a man under authority," the centurion is suggesting some very important truths. One, he realizes that in Jesus’ presence he is really no more than a servant himself. Secondly, his words also suggest that he recognizes that Jesus is more than just an ordinary man; rather, he indicates an awareness that Jesus is one with true authority.

In describing how his own underlings obey him even though he is but a servant to another as well, the centurion is saying, "If those under me do what I command at my word, surely You who have ultimate authority can command anything – including something as incredible as the miracle of healing – by your very word alone."

The end result?

"And Jesus said, ‘Go; be it done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment" (Matthew 8:13).

Now let’s make these words our very own.

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Consider just how fitting the sentiment being expressed truly is – we are telling Jesus that we recognize Him as Lord, and that we know how unworthy we are of having Him join Himself to us not only spiritually, but physically in an intimacy that exceeds our comprehension.

As we prepare for this incredible encounter with Christ, the time is truly fitting to express the degree to which we are awed by the very thought of such intimate union with our Lord. He is, after all, the One through whom all things were made and we are but creatures!

Perhaps an analogy will help. Imagine your telephone ringing and the voice on the other end says, "The Holy Father is coming to your house for a visit, he’ll be walking through the front door in five minutes." How would you feel?

In addition to being excited and thrilled at the prospect you’d probably think, "Oh my God! Not me! Not now! I’m not prepared! The house isn’t clean enough, the furniture isn’t good enough, I’m not dressed well enough," etc.

When we are preparing to receive the Lord Jesus Christ in an infinitely more profound manner in the Most Holy Eucharist, it is absolutely right that we should take on similar sentiments, filled with anticipation and awed at the very thought, yet also with a sense that we are utterly unprepared for such a privileged encounter. The interior of our abode – our bodies – are not quite clean enough, our holiness is not yet refined enough, in the words of the centurion, we simply are not worthy.

But the centurion didn’t stop there and neither do we. We recognize that because Jesus is Lord, all that it takes is His word and our souls – dwelling within our bodies, our inmost being – can be healed of all unworthiness such that He can, and indeed will, enter. But only say the word...

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me," says the Lord (Revelation 3:20).

In our response at Holy Mass, we are proclaiming before God and one another that we truly are unworthy of the Holy Communion that is about to come (and who is?) but we then accept in faith that Jesus will respond to us just as He did to the centurion, "As thou hast believed, so be it done to thee."

At this, we accept in faith that our souls are thus healed and we are prepared by grace to "open the door" so that the Lord who knocks may enter under the roof of our mouths, into our bodies, that we may receive Him in a way the centurion couldn’t even begin to imagine.

There is indeed infinite distance between the Holy One of God and ourselves, but the Lord by His awesome power, His infinite love and His unfathomable mercy, breaches that distance in response to our faith; a faith reflected in the words that we say from the depths of our hearts:

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

This recognition of our unworthiness and our acceptance of the healing that makes intimate union with Christ in the Eucharist possible is essential, because when this is lost we run the risk of losing the sense of awe that should accompany our participation in this great and glorious mystery of God’s sacrificial love for His people.

The Concluding Rites

Finally, we return in the Concluding Rites to those familiar words that we first encountered in Part One; The Lord be with you / And with your spirit. In this way, all are reminded that we go forth from Holy Mass newly fortified indeed, yet also just as we entered; in Christ who dwells within us.

All glory, praise and honor to Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

*

Louie Verrecchio has been a columnist for Catholic News Agency since April 2009. In addition to And with Your Spirit – Recovering a sense of the sacred in the English translation of the Roman Missal – 3rd Edition, he is the author of the internationally acclaimed Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II Faith Formation Series, and Ten Things Every Catholic Should Know About Vatican II. A frequent guest on the Relevant Radio and Ave Maria Radio Networks, he recently appeared on the popular EWTN program The Choices We Face with Ralph Martin.

Mr. Verrecchio’s work has been endorsed by Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia; Bishop Emeritus Patrick O’Donoghue of Lancaster, England and Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City, IA, USA and others. For more information please visit: www.harvestingthefruit.com

"Dear children! I look at you and I see in your heart death without hope, restlessness and hunger. There is no prayer or trust in God, that is why the Most High permits me to bring you hope and joy. Open yourselves. Open your hearts to God's mercy and He will give you everything you need and will fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace and your hope. Thank you for having responded to my call." (November 25, 2010)

As we enter Advent, Our Lady gives us a serious message."I look at you and I see in your heart..."As our heavenly Mother, Our Lady can see into our hearts, observe our lives from the beginning, and understand us each individually.She is a mother who cares for each one of us, and is watching over us anxiously, hoping and praying for our salvation.She sees the dangers we encounter, the temptations we are assaulted with, the wounds we have and the sorrows that plague us.She sees our weakened condition as fallen children.From her point of view, we need help!

But we have to realize that her stern words are meant for a broad range of her children.As a mother of 8, I had to sometimes give direction to my children as a group, and often what I said did not equally fit each child.Some were more in need of the correction than others, but they all benefited from hearing the truth from me, even if some were not as guilty as others!That is how I take this message.Not all of us are not praying, restless, hungry, or filled with death.But all of us need to know that these things are possible, and we can all pray for each other to find the remedy!

Our Lady wants us to take her words to heart, and examine our lives accordingly.We each can strive to be more filled of hope, more prayerful, more trusting in God, and more filled with life.And after our own examination, we can take this message as a request to pray for others to be freed from "death without hope" and to fill their lives with prayer.This message is an invitation to intercessory prayer as well!

We have such a good mother, one who is not afraid to challenge us to grow, repent, and reach for the good!She wants us all to attain eternal life with her Son, Jesus!Thank you, Mother Mary, for guiding us, even if it is sternly at times!

A book so "risky" has no precedent for a successor of Peter. "Everyone is free to contradict me" is his motto. On the controversial question of the condom, Professor Rhonheimer explains why Benedict XVI is right

by Sandro Magister

ROME, November 25, 2010 – Toward the end of his book-length interview "Light of the World," which recently went on sale in various languages, Benedict XVI refers to his other book about Jesus, his "latest major work."

He recalls that "in a completely deliberate way" he wanted that book not to be an act of the magisterium, but the offering of his own personal interpretation.

Jesus: "My beloved priest-companion, how often I tell you how much I love you! And what great joy and peace I give you when I tell you this! How often I press you closely to My Heart! Daily I draw you ever more deeply within My Heart! There I allow you to experience the overwhelming riches of My Heart. I have shown you, as you dwell within My Heart, the secret of finding amazing peace, joy, and happiness. I have shown you that to dwell within My Heart is to experience a foretaste of Heaven!

"I allow you to dwell so deeply within My Heart because I have given you the gift of dwelling within My Mother's Heart. The more one dwells within Mary's Immaculate Heart, the more she places that person within My Sacred Heart.

"My beloved friend, keep telling My people about all the wondrous riches contained in Our Hearts! Keep reminding them that they live in the age of the Two Hearts. Keep telling them that the quickest and most secure path to the highest sanctity is to dwell within Mary's Heart and My Heart!

"I am Lord and Master. I plead with My people to listen to My words and to live them! I love My people with a tremendous love, and in this love I give them this message."

Reflection: Jesus again begs us to come and experience the riches contained in His Heart and Mary's Heart. How foolish we are if we fail to accept His invitation! How many pursue the false riches of this world, and refuse the true riches which Jesus offers. We must determine each day, with God's help, not to be included among those who reject the riches which Jesus offers in order to pursue the false promises of happiness which the world holds before us. The world can't give us happiness. Jesus can.

"The Church in Ireland Is on a Path of Renewal"

DUBLIN, NOV. 27, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Here are the notes from a homily given by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin on Nov. 20 at the 30th anniversary Mass in commemoration of the servant of God Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary.

* * *

Frank Duff died thirty years ago. This quiet, personally unassuming man, in quiet simple external circumstances in Dublin, on 7th September 1921 established a movement of prayer, Christian care and Marian spirituality. The Legion of Mary is a movement which has spread worldwide and has enriched the Church in many parts of the world, especially at moments in which the Church was experiencing difficulty and persecution.

Our Lady of Beauraing

We have a Beauraing picture page located at the bottom of the story of Our Lady of Beauraing.

In 1917, Our Lady of Fatima told the 3 shepherd children that if men did not stop offending Her Son, the world would be punished by means of wars, famines, and persecutions of the church.

By 1932, this prophecy was well underway. Communists were in power in Russia. Mussolini was leader of Italy. Hitler was rising in Germany. The world was in depression. Unemployment, bread lines, hunger and riots were wide spread.

In a French speaking part of Belgium, lay a village called Beauraing. Sixty miles southeast of Brussels, Beauraing was mostly a farming community of about 2000 people.

Once staunch Catholic, many Beauraing villagers were lead away from the Church. The Marxist Labor Party won many district elections. Many were now anti-Catholic.

On November 29, 1932, Fernande and Albert Voisin, age 15 and 11, respectively, went to meet their sister, Gilberte, age 13. Gilberte attended an Academy conducted by the Sisters of Christian Doctrine. Gilberte's sister Fernande and brother Albert would often walk their sister home from school at the end of the day. Accompanying them this day was the two Degeimbre girls, Andree, age 14 and Gilberte, age 9.

Waiting for Gilberte Voisin to come out of the convent, the other four children went to the convent garden to visit the Lourdes Grotto. Albert was the first to notice a beautiful luminous lady dressed in white, walking in the air with her feet inside a cloud. Looking to see what Albert was talking about the other children saw the lady as well.

The lady looked about 18. Her eyes deep blue with rays of light coming from her head. She wore a long white pleated gown with a belt. The dress reflected a sort of blue light. Her hands were held together as if in prayer. Later she would carry a Rosary on her right arm during all other visitations.

The lady continued to appear in the following days. On December 2, Albert was the first to speak asking her, "Are you the Immaculate Virgin?" The Lady smiled and nodded Her head, then saying, "Always be good." Disappearing, She returned 3 more times that very day.

On several occasions the Lady told the children that She desired them to be present on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On December 8th some 15000 people were present, as the word of the vision had spread. During this apparition, Dr. Maistriaux, Dr. Lurquin and other doctors were there to pinch, slap, prick and shine flashlights in the children eyes. There was no response from the children during the Lady's visit.

Dr. Lurquin took a lighted match to Gilberte Voisin's left hand; still there was no response. After the apparition Dr. Lurquin looked to see what damage the match had done. There was no sign of injury.

On December 17, the Lady asked for a chapel to be built. On December 23, she stated that she desired people to come on pilgrimage.On December 21, the beautiful luminous Lady clearly stated, "I am the Immaculate Virgin."On December 29, the Blessed Virgin opened Her arms in Her usual gesture of farewell. This time Fernande saw a Heart of Gold, surrounded by glittering rays. In the coming days all the chosen children witnessed this event which happened in all the remaining apparitions. The Heart was without question, the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Beginning with the Dec. 30th apparition, Our Lady began to repeat, "Pray, pray, very much.

On Jan 3, 1933, after two decades of the rosary, again She appeared. She spoke to each child separately, given each a secret and ending by saying good-by.

Fernande was the last to receive word. At this time many spectators witnessed a loud noise like thunder, seeing a large ball of fire. Our Lady said to Fernande, "Do you love My Son?" 'Yes,' Fernande replied. "Do you love Me?" asked the Lady. 'Yes,' Fernande answered. "Then sacrifice yourself for me."

As Fernande was asking what sacrifices she should make, the Lady of light extended Her arms in gesture of farewell showing Her gold heart, then She disappeared saying good-by.

Though this was the last visitation, the children prayed the rosary in the Grotto every day. There were reports of a number of healing and many sinners were converted.

In 1935, a Commission was appointed to investigate the Events in Beauraing. On February 2, 1943, Bishop Andre Marie Charue authorized public devotion to Our Lady of Beauraing. Decrees of healing were to follow. On July 2, 1949, the Bishop released a document to Clergy in the Diocese declaring that the Queen of Heaven did appear to the children.

The statue of Our Lady of Beauraing was blessed on August 22, 1946, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart. The Chapel was consecrated August 21, 1954.

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MARY, OUR MOTHER

Mother Mary said at Fatima: "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the sure way which will lead you to God." With that in mind, I will try to post each day something about Our Blessed Lady, items about the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and public domain Catholic books too! I pray you enjoy my ministry!Below is a slide show of pictures that I have collected: Tears of Mary!

Have a look!

Jeremiah 14:17; 15:18

"Let my eyes shed down tears night and day, and let them not cease, because the Virgin daughter of my people is afflicted with an exceedingly grievous evil. / Why is my sorrow become perpetual, and my wound desperate so as to refuse to be healed?"

Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia, et ubi ecclesia vita eterna

Where Peter is, there is the Church, where the Church is there is Eternal Life

About Me

I'm 79, formally married to Marianne for 52 years, [Marianne passed away to the Lord on August 9th, 2013 after suffering a stroke and two cardiac arrests.] We have 4 children (plus 2 in heaven-stillborn) and nine grandchildren plus 1 Step-grandchild. I'm a Korean War Vet, U.S. Navy; I was a Motorcycle News Courier for U.P.I., and WNEW Chanel 5 TV News, during 60's & 70's; a Lieutenant in the Wycoff Hospital Police in the 90's. I was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Brooklyn Diocese on April 25, 1987 and served in four parishes before relocating to Florida in 2002. I'm still incardinated for Brooklyn Diocese. There was no parish in my town so we traveled to either Mt. Dora or Eustis for Mass. My oldest son and daughter, John and Anne, lived near us but the rest of the gang are up North in New York and Pennsylvania. We have now relocated to a northern state and my ministry is mostly on the Internet with some blogs and groups. I also assist the pastor at the local Catholic church. I owe my life and conversion/calling to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de Garabandal, who has brought me to her Son Jesus. I am Their servant and slave! I only want to do the Will of God and glorify the Most Blessed Trinity with my life!

My Friend Archbishop David Milne

PSALM 71 SPEAKS TO MY HEART

Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;let me never be put to shame!In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;incline your ear to me, and save me!

Be to me a rock of refuge,to which I may continually come;you have given the command to save me,for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.For you, O Lord, are my hope,my trust, O Lord, from my youth.Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;you are he who took me from my mother's womb.My praise is continually of you.

I have been as a portent to many,but you are my strong refuge.My mouth is filled with your praise,and with your glory all the day.Do not cast me off in the time of old age;forsake me not when my strength is spent.

For my enemies speak concerning me;those who watch for my life consult togetherand say, “God has forsaken him;pursue and seize him,for there is none to deliver him.”

O God, be not far from me;O my God, make haste to help me!May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;with scorn and disgrace may they be coveredwho seek my hurt.

But I will hope continuallyand will praise you yet more and more.My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,of your deeds of salvation all the day,for their number is past my knowledge.

With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

O God, from my youth you have taught me,and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs,O God, do not forsake me,until I proclaim your might to another generation,your power to all those to come.Your righteousness, O God,reaches the high heavens.You who have done great things,O God, who is like you?

You who have made me see many troubles and calamitieswill revive me again;from the depths of the earthyou will bring me up again.You will increase my greatnessand comfort me again.

I will also praise you with the harpfor your faithfulness, O my God;I will sing praises to you with the lyre,O Holy One of Israel.My lips will shout for joy,when I sing praises to you;my soul also, which you have redeemed.

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointedwho sought to do me hurt.

Welcome to my Marian Blog

As you can tell from my postings, I'm in love with Mother Mary, who has taken me under her mantle of protection, has taught and led me to Her Divine Son, Jesus; Who in turn has led me, in the Holy Spirit, to the Eternal Father! Two prayers that I say often tell who I am:Come O Holy Spirit; Come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your well-beloved Spouse.

O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee. My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.